One of the Christmas presents from my wife was the latest Mo Dotti release, Opaque, on CD. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the compact disc version of the album comes with 4 bonus tracks (one of which is the oft-covered “She’s My Best Friend” by the Velvet Underground). These tracks are not on the Bandcamp site for the album or the version that appear on the streaming services. I read musicians complaining about the meager compensation opportunities that the streaming landscape affords and I can’t help but think this is the way to (somewhat) manage that.
Giving your fans a little something extra for buying a physical release that will actually put money in your pocket seems like a no-brainer. Whether it’s a booklet with lyrics and proper liner notes, bonus tracks or exquisite packaging, you should incentivize music lovers to invest a little bit extra to get a better experience.
As for the music from Mo Dotti, it is cliche to make My Bloody Valentine or Lush comparisons, but those are certainly available for the taking. Walls of abstract distorted guitars wail in the background while singer Gina Negrini provides melodic vocals with the usual ethereal flourishes. Opaque is a strong release from the Los Angeles shoegazers and the bonus tracks are icing on the cake.
